Another paradigm for analysis of 1569 Mercator map - mundi

Abstract

The maps from XVI century, sketched iconographies elements in a more artistic than scientific context. Gerardus Mercator in 1569 build a map that influence the cartography until our time. The planisphere of Mercator, with the objective for navigation, it was the first map to use the projection made by him. In this essay, we search to analyze the Mercator map with alternative perspective, normally used by many researchers. The deconstruction of the map was carry out through by the three categories of analysis: the mapmaker context, the other maps context and the society context. With this measure, it was possible to identify the hidden, the censures and the ideals residents in an iconographic map, in an iconological interpretation. As result of this analyze, it was possible reveal that: while Mercator built a great work for the worldwide cartography, his map also served for political ideals of his contractors, who aimed the economical, religious and political domination of Renaissance Europe.